Plaintiff Cincinnati Insurance Company seeks a declaration that no coverage exists for an underlying suit against its former insureds, Defendants Stonebridge Bank, Joseph Spada, and David Keller. Presently before the Court are the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment (Docs. No. 23 & 24), and responses in opposition (Docs. No. 33 & 34). Upon careful consideration of the parties' briefs and applicable case law, the Court DENIES Plaintiff's Motion and GRANTS Defendants'.

I. INTRODUCTION

We are asked to determine whether an errors-and-omissions insurance policy provides

coverage for a lawsuit brought against a bank for its alleged wrongful failure to extend credit. Stonebridge Bank ("Stonebridge") entered into an agreement to extend credit to Engel Group, LLC ("Engel") but failed to honor that agreement, asserting that it believed the agreement had expired. Engel brought action against Stonebridge, claiming it suffered damages and lost profits due to Stonebridge's breach of contract. Stonebridge, in turn, sought coverage for the lawsuit from Cincinnati Insurance Company ("Cincinnati"), its errors-and omissions ("E&O") insurer. Cincinnati initially recognized a defense obligation, but reserved its right to disclaim coverage at a later date. On August 16, 2010, Cincinnati filed this action, seeking a declaration that the insurance policy it issued to Stonebridge does not provide coverage for Engel's claims against Stonebridge. Stonebridge filed a counterclaim, seeking a declaration that coverage exists. Both parties now seek summary judgment.

II. BACKGROUND

A. The Policy

In 2007, Cincinnati issued an errors-and-omissions insurance policy-the Financial Institutions Blue Chip Policy (the "Policy")-to Stonebridge, covering the period March 25, 2007 to March 25, 2010. Cincinnati undertook to pay all monetary damages that Stonebridge "become[s] legally obligated to pay on account of any 'claim' for a 'wrongful act.'"*fn1 (Doc. No. 3, Ex. A-1, p. 13-15.) The policy defines "wrongful act" as "any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect or breach of duty committed . . . by . . . [Stonebridge] in the performance of 'professional services.'" (Doc. No. 3, Ex. A-1, p. 15.) "Professional services" refers to "activities allowed under the law and regulations governing financial institutions which are performed for or on behalf of any client or customer of [Stonebridge]." (Id.)

The policy also features a contractual liability exclusion and an endorsement-two provisions that are at the heart of the parties' disagreement. Part V, Section I.I of the Policy (the "Exclusion") provides that Cincinnati is not liable to pay, indemnify, or defend any claim:

[b]ased upon, arising out of, directly or indirectly resulting from or in consequence of, or in any way involving legal liability assumed by any of the "policy insureds" under the terms, conditions, or warranties of any oral or written agreement, or by virtue of any waiver or release from liability of any third party . . . . (Doc. No. 3, Ex. A-2, p. 9.) And, the Financial Institution Coverage Amendatory Endorsement (the "Endorsement") adds the following language to the Policy:

It is further understood and agreed that this policy shall be amended to include coverage for any claim or claims arising out of any "wrongful lending act" related to an extension of credit or refused extension of credit to a "borrower."*fn2 (Doc. No. 3, Ex. A-3, p. 11.)

B. The Underlying Litigation

On May 7, 2007, Stonebridge issued two loan commitment agreements (the "Commitments") to Engel, a small home builder. The Commitments, originally set to expire on September 30, 2008, expressed Stonebridge's promise to extend credit to Engel in the total amount of $5,145,000, in exchange for Engel's compliance with certain conditions. On September 24, 2008, Stonebridge and Engel agreed, in writing, to extend the end date to October 31, 2008. (Engel Group, LLC v. Stonebridge Bank, et al., No. 08-cv-6020, Compl. ¶ 13.) According to Engel, Stonebridge later orally modified the Commitments to further extend them to November 20, 2008, but then failed to appear at closing on that day. (Id. at ¶¶ 14-21.) Engel then filed suit in this Court (the "Lawsuit"), (see Engel Group, LLC v. Stonebridge Bank, et al., No. 08-cv-6020), alleging that the Commitments induced it to: (1) enter into a contract to purchase some property from Lehman Brothers; (2) pay a $550,000 deposit; and (3) bear other costs in preparation for construction on the property. (Id. ¶¶ 11-70.) The Lawsuit advances alternative theories of liability: breach of contract and promissory estoppel. In response, Stonebridge and its officers insist that there was no oral modification, and point out that Engel did not comply with the Commitments' conditions by the October 31, 2008 end date. (Stonebridge Ans. ¶¶ 14-58; Stonebridge Pre-trial Memo. p. 3.) Thus, Stonebridge argues, its refusal to fund and/or renew the expired Commitments was entirely justified. (Id.)

C. The Present Action

Stonebridge submitted the Lawsuit to Cincinnati for coverage, asserting that: (1) Engel was a "borrower" as defined in the Policy; and (2) Engel accuses Stonebridge of committing "wrongful lending acts" related to "an extension of credit" as required by the Policy's Endorsement. (See Defs.' Ans. & Countercl., Doc. No. 10.) Cincinnati counters that because the Lawsuit arises out of liability "assumed" by Stonebridge under the Commitments, the Policy's Exclusion precludes coverage. (Compl. ¶ 47.) Cincinnati filed this action on August 16, 2010 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201 & 2202, seeking a declaratory judgment*fn3 that no coverage exists and there is no duty to defend or indemnify Stonebridge for the Lawsuit's costs. Stonebridge filed a counterclaim, seeking a declaration that coverage exists.*fn4 Both parties concede that there are no genuine factual disputes*fn5 and that the interpretation of the insurance contract is appropriately resolved as a matter of law.*fn6

III. ANALYSIS

We must determine whether Engel's claim is within the Policy's coverage or is barred by an exclusion. See Snyder Heating Co. Inc. v. Pa. Mfrs.' Ass'n. Ins. Co., 715 A.2d 483, 484 (Pa. Super Ct. 1998) ("A court's first step in a declaratory judgment action concerning insurance coverage is to determine the scope of the policy's coverage."). First, we resolve the parties' central dispute-the applicability of the Policy's provision excluding coverage for "liability assumed under contract." Next, we determine the scope of the Policy's coverage for errors, misstatements, acts, or omissions committed in the performance of professional services. Then, once we have ascertained the scope of coverage, we address Cincinnati's contention that Stonebridge cannot obtain a declaratory judgment on the existence of coverage and the duty to indemnify.

Cincinnati's primary contention is that its duties under the Policy are limited by the Exclusion, a provision that excludes coverage for claims based upon, or arising out of, "liability assumed under contract." (See Doc. No. 3, Ex. A, p. 10.) Cincinnati essentially argues, and Stonebridge concedes, that this phrase excludes coverage for all liability stemming from a contract-regardless of whether the insured actually assumed such liability in the contract, or merely incurred a liability pursuant to the contract.

This line of cases found that CGL policies did not provide coverage for breach of contract claims because such claims were not "occurrences" or "accidents." See, e.g., Redevelopment Auth., 685 A.2d at 589 (holding that insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify because "the underlying suit arises out of a breach of contract which is not an accident or occurrence contemplated or covered by the provisions of a general liability insurance policy"); Nationwide, 562 F.3d at 598 (upholding the district court's finding that a breach of contract did not trigger coverage under a CGL policy because it "do[es] not arise from a covered 'occurrence[]'") None of these courts based their decisions on a contractual liability exclusion like the one Cincinnati relies on here.*fn8

Unlike the policies addressed in these cases, Cincinnati's policy provides errors-and omissions (E&O) professional liability insurance. E&O policies differ substantially from CGL policies. While CGL policies provide coverage for losses due to bodily injury and/or property damage caused by an accident, E&O policies provide coverage for "liability resulting from covered acts, errors or omissions in the performance of 'professional services.'" 4 NEW APPLEMAN INSURANCE LAW PRACTICE GUIDE 38.05, 38.02, & 38.04 (Jeffrey E. Thomas et al. eds., LexisNexis 2011 ed.); see also, 4 NEW APPLEMAN ON INSURANCE LAW LIBRARY EDITION § 25.01 (Jeffrey E. Thomas & Aviva Abramovsky eds., LexisNexis 2010) ("Unlike general comprehensive insurance, E&O insurance insures against a special risk inherent in the practice of [a] profession, such as negligence, omissions, mistakes, and errors."). The coverage distinction between CGL and E&O policies is clear: bodily injury and/or property damage do not include claims for economic loss resulting from malpractice; and rendering or failing to render professional services generally does not fit the definition of an accident. See Thomas et al. eds., 4 NEW APPLEMAN INSURANCE LAW PRACTICE GUIDE, supra, at § 38.05. Thus, Cincinnati's reliance on cases involving CGL policies*fn9 is misplaced. Breaches of contract are not, and cannot be, automatically excluded from coverage in all types of insurance policies simply because they are excluded in CGL policies (which require injury caused by an "accident").

We also reject Cincinnati's related suggestion that public policy considerations prohibit construing insurance policies to provide coverage for breach of contract claims. To support this position, Cincinnati relies on another inapposite line of cases. See HK Systems, Inc. v. Eaton Corp., 553 F.3d 1086, 1091 (7th Cir. 2009) (finding that "without express language[,] an indemnitor will not be found to have agreed to indemnify an indemnitee against the consequences of the breach of a contract that the latter signs after the indemnity contract or the formal insurance contract goes into effect") (emphasis in original); Waste Corp. of Am. v. Genesis Ins. Co., 382 F. Supp. 2d 1349 (S.D. Florida 2005) (concluding that a directors-and-officers policy did not cover liability for intentional misconduct by the insured company); Jerry Davis, Inc. v. Md. Ins. Co., 38 F. Supp. 2d 387 (E.D. Pa. 1999) (CGL policy precluded coverage for damages arising from a "delay or failure [by the insured] to perform a contract or agreement in accordance with its terms"). None of these cases pronounce a policy rule barring any type of insurance coverage for breach of contract claims. Indeed, these cases implicitly recognize that insurance policies could cover breach-of-contract claims. See, e.g. Waste Corp., 382 F. Supp. 2d at 1356 (acknowledging that "notwithstanding the foregoing [public policy considerations], the question of coverage must still be decided on the basis of the [particular] policy provisions"). Thus, while we agree with Cincinnati that policy considerations may sometimes counsel against construing an insurance policy to cover a breach-of-contract claim, we cannot infer a sweeping public-policy rule from a set of factually and legally distinct cases. See Verticalnet, Inc. v. U.S. Specialty Ins. Co., 492 F. Supp. 2d 452, 460 (E.D. Pa. 2007) (refusing to "extrapolate from general liability insurance . . . a sweeping public policy that liability insurance of any type cannot cover otherwise valid claims if they also arise from a breach of contractual duty").*fn10

Moreover, courts have consistently interpreted the contractual liability exclusion at issue here-a preclusion of coverage for "liability assumed under contract"-to apply only to instances where the insured agrees to "assume" the tort liability of a third party, such as in indemnification and hold harmless agreements. See 1 HANDBOOK ON INSURANCE COVERAGE DISPUTES § 7.05 (Barry R. Ostrager & Thomas R. Newman eds., Aspen Publishers 14th ed. 2008) ("This phrase does not refer to the insured's breaches of its own contracts."); Homeowners Mgmt. Enters., Inc. v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co., 294 Fed. App'x 814, 820, n.21 (5th Cir. 2008) (noting that the exclusion for liability "assumed in a contract or agreement" denies coverage where "the insured assumes responsibility for the conduct of a third party"); Provident Bank of Md. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Corp., 236 F.3d 138, 147 (4th Cir. 2000) (finding that the phrase "liability assumed by the insured under any agreement" applies "only if [the insured's] liability arises secondarily from an agreement to be responsible for a third party's primary liability"); Musgrove v. Southland Corp., 898 F.2d 1041, 1044 (5th Cir. 1990) ("The assumption by contract of the liability of another is distinct conceptually from the breach of one's contract with another. Liability on the part of the insured for the former is triggered by contractual performance; for the latter[,] liability is triggered by contractual breach."); Dreis & Krump Mfg. Co. v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 548 F.2d 681 (7th Cir. 1977) (noting that "liability assumed [by the insured] under any written contract" means "a specific written agreement between the insured and some third party whereby the insured agrees to indemnify the third party").

We find this interpretation compelling, particularly in the context of an E&O policy designed to insure against the special risks inherent in the lending business. Here, the Policy not only insures errors, omissions, or acts committed by Stonebridge in the performance of professional services-defined to encompass all of Stonebridge's activities on behalf of its clients-it also specifically covers "claims arising out of any 'wrongful lending act' related to an extension of credit or refused extension of credit to a 'borrower.'" (See Doc. No. 3, Ex. A-3, p. 14). Stonebridge points out that as "all lender liability actions arise out of a contractual relationship" (Doc. No. 25, p. 18), it reasonably expected the Policy to cover "all lender liability practices," whether asserted in negligence or breach of contract.*fn11 Id. Cincinnati concedes that a bank's lending relationship "is almost always contractual in nature," (see Doc. No. 23, p. 17), but fails to explain the significance of the Endorsement in the context of a policy that excludes all breach-of-contract claims. In other words, Cincinnati fails to answer this crucial question: if the Policy excludes all breach-of-contract claims, then what is the significance of the Endorsement? Thus, Cincinnati has not met its burden of proving the applicability of the Exclusion here. See Koppers Co., Inc. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 98 F.3d 1440, 1446 (3d Cir. 1996).*fn12

B. Scope of coverage

Having concluded that the Exclusion does not apply in this case, we move on to determine whether Stonebridge's conduct falls within the Policy's definition of "professional services."*fn13 Courts consider an insured's conduct a "professional service" if it: (1) arises out of the insured's day-to-day business operations, Bank of California v. Opie, 663 F.2d 977, 982 (9th Cir. 1981)*fn14 ; (2) involves specialized knowledge or skill, Marx v. Hartford Accident & Indem. Co., 157 N.W.2d 870, 872 (Neb. 1986); or (3) implicates a special risk inherent in the practice of the insured profession, Opie, 663 F.2d 981.

The conduct at issue here-Stonebridge's failure to extend credit pursuant to an agreement it believed had expired-falls into all three of these categories. As a financial institution engaged in lending activities, extending or failing to extend credit is part of Stonebridge's usual day-to-day business operations. See Opie, 663 F.2d 977 (finding that a mortgage broker's misapplication of loan proceeds in breach of its contract with a commercial bank was part of broker's "day-to-day business operations" and thus constituted a professional service). Stonebridge's actions-negotiating a conditional agreement to extend credit to a borrower, determining whether those conditions were met, and deciding whether to extend the end date for that agreement-also involve specialized knowledge and skill. Contra Massamont Ins. Agency, Inc. v. Utica Mut. Ins. Co., 489 F.3d 71 (1st Cir. 2007) (finding that an insurance agency's diversion of its business in breach of an exclusivity agreement did not constitute professional service but was merely a business decision); Zurich Am. Ins. Co. v. O'Hara Reg'l Cntr. for Rehab., 529 F.3d 916 (10th Cir. 2008) (concluding that a health facility's billing practices for medicare and medicaid claims did not qualify as "professional services"). Finally, liability for ultimately refusing to extend credit is clearly a "special risk" inherent in the lending business. Thus, Stonebridge's conduct qualifies as a "professional service" within the meaning of the Policy.

Next, we determine the meaning and effect of the Endorsement on the scope of the Policy's coverage for errors, misstatements, acts, or omissions. The Endorsement adds coverage for claims arising out of "any negligent act or omission, error, misstatement, or neglect or breach of duty" related to an extension of credit or refused extension of credit to a "borrower" (emphasis added). This addition both elucidates and complicates the original Policy. By adding the phrase, "related to an extension of credit or refused extension of credit," the Endorsement expressly clarifies-to the extent that it may have been unclear-that the Policy provides coverage for claims stemming from a faulty rendition of, or a failure to render, credit services.*fn15

However, the Endorsement's definition of "wrongful lending act" conflicts with the original Policy's definition of "wrongful act." Specifically, the Endorsement adds the term "negligent act or omission" to the original Policy's definition of a "wrongful act," but explicitly notes that the definitions set forth in the Endorsement "shall apply to this 'endorsement' only and shall not apply to the policy to which this 'endorsement' is attached." Because the Endorsement does not provide any new coverage*fn16 -it only further delineates coverage that is already afforded by the original Policy-its language creates ambiguity regarding which definition of "wrongful act" controls.*fn17 In accordance with Pennsylvania law, we resolve this ambiguity in favor of Stonebridge and find the original Policy's definition controlling. See Medical Protective Co., 198 F.3d at103. Thus, Stonebridge's error-its failure to extend credit pursuant to an agreement it believed had expired-falls within the Policy's coverage, regardless of whether it was negligent or not. If Cincinnati wanted to limit coverage to only negligent acts, negligent errors, or negligent omissions, it should have written the Policy and Endorsement to make this clear. It did not. Cincinnati, not Stonebridge, bears the consequences of this lack of clarity.

We note that Pennsylvania's reasonable expectations doctrine bolsters our interpretation of the Policy and Endorsement. See UPMC Health System v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 391 F.3d 497, 502 (3d Cir. 2004) ("[T]he reasonable expectations of the insured is the focal point of the insurance transaction . . . regardless of the ambiguity, or lack thereof, inherent in a given set of documents."). This doctrine "is intended to protect against the inherent danger, created by the nature of the insurance industry, that an insurer will agree to certain coverage when receiving the insured's application, and then unilaterally change those terms when it later issues a policy." Id. The record here supports Stonebridge's contention that it reasonably expected the Policy to cover "all lender liability practices," whether asserted in negligence or breach of contract. (See Doc. No. 25, p. 18.) Specifically, Stonebridge attached a needs-checklist to its application for insurance. That checklist noted Stonebridge's desire for "coverage for all professional services provided to a third party for a fee, whether such service is provided in accordance with a contract or not." (Doc. No 28, p. 25.) (emphasis in original). Ted Doughman, Cincinnati's insurance underwriter, placed a checkmark next to this request, indicating that it was acceptable and would be provided. (Doc. No. 29, p. 24.) Cincinnati cannot now claim that the policy it issued in response to that request does not cover the very services Stonebridge sought coverage for. See UPMC Health System, 391 F.3d at 503.

C. Duty to Defend v. Duty to Indemnify

Finally, Cincinnati contends that Stonebridge cannot obtain a declaratory judgment on the existence of coverage and the duty to indemnify because the Bank's ultimate liability on the underlying Lawsuit, if any, has yet to be undetermined. This argument, too, fails. Pennsylvania does distinguish between the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify: an insurer is obligated to defend an insured if the claim is potentially covered by the insurance policy, but is only required to indemnify after the insured has been found liable for a claim actually covered by the policy. See Gen. Acc. Ins. Co. of Am. v. Allen, 692 A.2d 1089, 1095-6 (Pa. 1997). But Pennsylvania allows courts to resolve both the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify in a single declaratory judgment action. See id., 692 A.2d at1095-6 (noting that the question before a court in a declaratory action is not whether the insurer owes a specified amount-which would be a premature inquiry absent full resolution on the underlying action-but whether the insurer has a duty to indemnify in the event of liability on the underlying action); Kvaerner Metals, 908 A.2d at 896 n.7 (acknowledging that both the duty to defend and the duty to indemnify flow from a determination that coverage exists). Because we find that the Policy provides coverage for the Lawsuit, Cincinnati is obligated to defend Stonebridge in that action. Cincinnati must also indemnify Stonebridge-in accordance with the Policy's terms-in the event Stonebridge is ultimately found liable.

IV. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, we GRANT judgment in Stonebridge's favor and against Cincinnati. The Clerk shall mark this matter statistically closed.

BY THE COURT:

Legrome D. Davis

Our website includes the main text of the court's opinion but does not include the
docket number, case citation or footnotes. Upon purchase, docket numbers and/or
citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a legal proceeding.
Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision.

Buy This Entire Record For
$7.95

Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.